Michael Madison
Michael Madison (born October 15, 1977) is a convicted serial killer from East Cleveland, Ohio who is known to have committed at least three murders. He was captured and arrested in 2013. In 2016 he was sentenced to death. Madison is currently being held on death row while his mandatory appeals against his execution pass through the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Michael Madison | |
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East Cleveland Police Dept. Booking Photo | |
Born | Michael Madison October 15, 1977 East Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
Conviction(s) | Murder |
Criminal penalty | Death |
Details | |
Victims | 3 |
Span of crimes | 2012–2013 |
Country | United States |
State(s) | Ohio |
Date apprehended | July 19, 2013 |
Early life
Madison was born October 15, 1977 to Diane Madison and John Baldwin as the result of an accidental pregnancy. However, Baldwin has denied that he was the father and had no contact with Madison.[1]
Arrest
On July 19, 2013, police, responding to reports of a foul odor, investigated a garage leased to Madison and discovered a decomposing body lying inside. Two more bodies were found the following day – one in a backyard and the other in the basement of a vacant house. The bodies of the three women were found 100 yards (91 m) to 200 yards (180 m) apart and were each wrapped in plastic bags. After obtaining a search warrant, police entered Madison's apartment and found "further evidence of decomposition." After a brief standoff with police at his mother's house, Madison was taken into custody without incident.[2][3]
The victims were identified as:
- Shetisha Sheeley, 28, who had been missing since September 2012.[4]
- Angela Deskins, 38, a resident of Cleveland who was reported missing in June 2013.[5]
- Shirellda Helen Terry, 18, who was last seen July 10, 2013, leaving a Cleveland Elementary School where she had a summer job.[6]
On July 22, 2013, Madison was charged with three counts of aggravated murder. His bail was set at six million dollars and he also waived his right to a preliminary hearing.[7]
Trial and conviction
On October 31, 2013, Madison's attorney David Grant entered a not guilty plea to an updated indictment that included aggravated murder charges; prosecutors had announced that they were now seeking the death penalty, a move his attorney had tried to prevent but had expected. The 14-count updated indictment includes two counts each of aggravated murder for each victim, three counts of kidnapping, three counts of gross abuse of a corpse, one count of rape, and one count of weapons possession by an ex-convict. He had originally been registered as a sex offender in 2002 after serving four years for an attempted rape conviction, having had previous drug convictions in 2000 and 2001.[8]
Madison's trial began April 4, 2016.[9] On May 5, 2016, Madison was found guilty in the murders of Shirellda Terry, Shetisha Sheeley and Angela Deskins.[10] The jury spent less than one day deliberating before returning a guilty verdict on all 13 counts. Madison told the court he plans to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.[11] On May 20, 2016, the jury recommended that Madison should be sentenced to death.[12] On June 2, 2016, Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge Nancy R. McDonnell sentenced Madison to death.[13] During the sentencing, Madison was seen smirking which caused the father of victim, Van Terry to try to attack Madison in anger over his daughter's murder.[14]
Mother's killing
Three years after his conviction, Madison's mother, Diane Madison, was killed at her home on June 22, 2019. She died from multiple stab wounds. Three of her grandchildren were also injured in the attack.[15] Her grandson, 18-year old Jalen Plummer is charged with his grandmother's murder and three counts of attempted murder. He has pled not guilty to all charges.[16]
References
- "Serial killer Michael Madison's childhood abuse used as defense to avoid death penalty". Cleveland.com. January 11, 2019.
- After 3 bodies found, mayor warns: 'There might be more victims', CNN.com, 21 July 2013
- East Cleveland sex offender Michael Madison to be charged Monday in deaths of 3 women, police say, Associated Press, 21 July 2013
- "Shetisha Sheeley identified as second East Cleveland murder victim, family confirms". newsnet5. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- "1 of 3 East Cleveland victims identified". CBS News. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- "Third female victim in Ohio slayings identified". CBS News. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- "Ohio man charged with murder after 3 bodies found". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- "Ohio sex offender pleads not guilty to slayings, could get death". NBC News. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
- "Michael Madison's ex says the accused serial killer 'can't stand the female species'". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- "Michael Madison found guilty of murdering three women in East Cleveland". cleveland.com. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- "East Cleveland serial killer Michael Madison convicted on 13 counts: 'He will never do this again'". cleveland.com. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- "Jury recommends death penalty for East Cleveland serial killer Michael Madison". cleveland.com. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- "East Cleveland serial killer Michael Madison sentenced to death". cleveland.com. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- "Van Terry lunges at his daughter's killer Michael Madison in court video". news.com.au. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- Christina Maxouris. "Ohio serial killer's mother was stabbed to death in the home where her son had been arrested". CNN. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- "Man charged in slaying of serial killer Michael Madison's mother, stabbing of three sleeping kids in Cleveland". www.cleveland.com. June 24, 2019.